Bitterroot Mountains

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Bitterroot Mountains
Trapper Peak, in the Central Bitterroot Range
Country	United States
Regions	Montana, Idaho
Area	4,862 mi² (12,593 km²)
Highest point	Trapper Peak
- coordinates	45°53′23.43″N, 114°17′52.11″W
- elevation	10,157 ft (3,096 m)

This article is about the Bitterroot Mountains, a subrange of the larger Bitterroot Range.

The Northern and Central Bitterroot Range, collectively the Bitterroot Mountains, is the largest portion of the Bitterroot Range, part of the Rocky Mountains, located in the panhandle of Idaho and westernmost Montana in the Western United States. The mountains encompass an area of 4,862 square miles (12,593 km²).

The mountains are bordered on the north by Lolo Creek, on the south by the Salmon River, on the east by the Bitterroot River and Valley, and on the west by the Selway and Lochsa Rivers.^[1] Its highest summit is Trapper Peak, at 10,157 feet (3,096 m).

[edit] Northern Bitterroot Range

Northern Bitterroot Range
Country	United States
Regions	Montana, Idaho
Area	1,869 mi² (4,841 km²)
Length	66 mi (106 km), N/S
Width	88 mi (142 km), E/W
Highest point	Rhodes Peak
- coordinates	46°40′29.26″N, 114°47′0.63″W
- elevation	7,930 ft (2,417 m)

The Northern Bitterroot Range is the northernmost and shortest subrange of the Bitterroot Mountains. The Northern Bitterroots encompass 1,869 square miles (4,841 km²) and its two tallest peaks are the 7,930 foot (2,417 m) Rhodes Peak and the 7,770 foot (2,368 m) Quartz Benchmark.^[2]

The Northern Bitterroots also contain a smaller subrange, the Grave Creek Range. The Grave Creek Range is 262 square miles (679 km²) in area and its highest peak is the 7,270 foot (2,216 m) Petty Mountain.^[3]

[edit] Central Bitterroot Range

Central Bitterroot Range
Another view of Trapper Peak, from US 93
Country	United States
Regions	Montana, Idaho
Area	2,993 mi² (7,752 km²)
Length	103 mi (166 km), N/S
Width	48 mi (77 km), E/W
Highest point	Trapper Peak
- coordinates	45°53′23.43″N, 114°17′52.11″W
- elevation	10,157 ft (3,096 m)

The Central Bitterroot Range is the southernmost and tallest subrange of the Bitterroot Mountains. The Central Bitterroots encompass 2,993 square miles (7,752 km²) and its two tallest peaks are the 10,157 foot (3,096 m) Trapper Peak and the 9,983 foot (3,043 m) El Capitan.^[4]

The Central Bitterroots also contain a smaller subrange, the Como Peaks. The Como Peaks subrange is 79 square miles (205 km²) in area and its highest peak is the aforementioned El Capitan.